Malleidae, or hammer oysters, is a
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
of saltwater clams. They are related to the pearl oysters, in the order
Pteriida[Gofas, S. (2011). Malleidae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=23067 on 2012-01-02] and the superfamily
Pterioidea.
The shells of most of these animals are T-shaped, with the hinge along the top of the T, and with the
byssus emerging from the hinge. An oblique
ligament holds the hinge. The shell is partially
nacreous. There is a single, large
adductor muscle A adductor muscle is any muscle that causes adduction. It may refer to:
Humans
* Adductor muscles of the hip, the most common reference in humans, but may also refer to
** Adductor brevis muscle, a muscle in the thigh situated immediately behind ...
. The exhalant current exits at the hinge.
Most hammer oysters live in tropical,
coral
Corals are marine invertebrates within the class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They typically form compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. Coral species include the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secre ...
line areas.
Genera
* ''
Malleus
The malleus, or hammer, is a hammer-shaped small bone or ossicle of the middle ear. It connects with the incus, and is attached to the inner surface of the eardrum. The word is Latin for 'hammer' or 'mallet'. It transmits the sound vibrations ...
'' Lamarck, 1799
* ''
Neoaviculovulsa'' Okutani & Kusakari, 1987
* ''
Vulsella''
The following genera have been brought into synonymy.
* ''Brevimalleus'' McLean, 1947 accepted as ''Malleus'' Lamarck, 1799
* ''Fundella'' Gregorio, 1884 accepted as ''Malleus'' Lamarck, 1799
* ''Himantopoda'' Schumacher, 1817 accepted as ''Malleus'' Lamarck, 1799
* ''Malleolus'' Rafinesque, 1815 accepted as ''Malleus'' Lamarck, 1799
* ''Malvufundus'' de Gregorio, 1885 accepted as ''Malleus'' Lamarck, 1799
* ''Parimalleus'' Iredale, 1931 accepted as ''Malleus'' Lamarck, 1799
* ''Tudes'' Oken, 1815 accepted as ''Malleus'' Lamarck, 1799
References
External links
POPPE images of various Malleidae species
Bivalve families
{{bivalve-stub